Plastic bad for you & the environment - going No Plastic Please!

Living close to San Diego’s coast and surfing for fun I see the effects of plastic pollution regularly. So as a green building and life style consultant for businesses and homeowners but most importantly a dad who wants the best earth for his child to live in, how could I not comment on this topic - Plastic!

It’s no secret that the overuse of plastic in our world is one of the most dangerous aspects to climate change/deteriorating health of the planet/people.

The 2 main reasons for this are simple:

1-Plastic doesn’t degrade-it’s here forever. That Taco Bell cup you drank out of at your prom is probably still floating around the Pacific right now.

2-We use literally tons of it every minute. Look around you right now, there’s probably no less than 5 plastic items within reach of you.

Some people not that interested in green living will argue that technically plastic DOES degrade; it just takes 1000 years to do so. Ok, I get your point, but when there is a literal floating ocean of the stuff in the pacific: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch as big as Texas there’s a problem.

2 easy ways to get plastic out of your life:

1- Be committed to not taking plastic bags from the store.

I know, if you’re reading this blog you’re probably already doing that to an extent. But I would humbly suggest you become obsessive about this. Hey, we all forget to bring our bags inside. When I shop with my 3 year old daughter, Kaya, it’s all I can do to remember my keys, where I parked and her when I’m walking in. Here’s the deal, even if you forget your own bags, still don’t take plastic at least opt for paper.

This happened to me the other day, Kaya and I were at Jimbo’s or Henry’s (one of those uber-expensive but ‘everything is organic and look at all the cool people in their Crocs and Prius’s” stores) and I forgot our bags. When we were checking out, I had a shopping cart full of stuff and a 3 year old who wanted to get home and make popsicles. Suffice to say, I was tempted to take some bags.

I ended up just wheeling the cart out to our car and loading the food, etc in the trunk. When we got home, we unloaded the trunk together (sort of-Kaya got bored and I did it by myself) and it was easy. Not using bags probably cost me an extra 3 whole minutes. Now when I shop, the pressure’s off to remember my own bags because even if I don’t I know I’m not taking any plastic bags.

2- Buy less plastic.

If you are interested in living green than be aware of what you buy and what it’s packaged in. Skip the tortured process of researching plastic ad infinitum and think of plastic like congealed gasoline.

Note from your go green eco coach, there are now products, to go containers and yes even bags that are manufactured with rice, corn or other natural plant fiber even to go forks and spoons. You can advocate for yourself and your planet by requesting that your store or fast food joints use these earth friendly green products. There really is only a small difference in their cost compared to plastic plus then they will be taking steps to being a gree earth friendly sustainable business .

Since it comes from petroleum that’s not much of a stretch. Would you drink out of a congealed gasoline cup? Feed your kids a congealed gasoline wrapped sandwich? How about carrying your fruit in a congealed gasoline bag? When you think of it that way, you might change what water bottle you drink from and what container you put your leftovers in.

Store your food in glass or metal (super easy to recycle and much healthier for you); and avoid heavily plastic wrapped items whenever you can. Buy drinks in cans or glass and bring a refillable mug to your morning coffee place. Give your kids wood toys instead of the typical plastic packaged one.

The biggest suggestion about buying less plastic is to make an effort to be aware when you shop. Every store you’re in, make an effort to be conscious of the choices you’re making. Your dollar is much more powerful than you think.

San Francisco just recently outlawed (yes ‘outlawed’) plastic bags. That change came about swiftly and stemmed from a few people who didn’t want plastic in their stores. The purchasing power of their dollars changed the plastic consumption in an entire city.

Just some thoughts about plastic. I am all for renewable energy, hybrid cars (yes, I have a Prius) and living green. A huge part of this is also drastically reducing our plastic use. I feel like 20 years from now my daughter is going to say, “You let me drink out of a plastic cup when I was a kid! OMD, how could you?” Very much like when I remember 20 years ago people used to be able to smoke on a plane, or drive little kids in cars without car seats. All it takes is a little recognition and awareness so thanks for reading and being part of the conversation.